Publication of up-to-date army manning statistics has been delayed by problems validating data from the Ministry of Defence’s new Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system.

Armed forces minister Bob Ainsworth said that to ensure compliance with national statistics guidelines figures they will not be available until April.

The quarterly report published last week provides figures from 1 July for staff in the RAF and Royal Navy. But Army numbers are from 1 April, a quarter in arrears.

Army rollout of the £100m JPA began in April. It enables staff to access pay and personnel systems online.